Method and machine for making paper cups



J 1940- H. J. SMITH ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER CUPS F'il ed Dec. 15, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 NM lfivar'uam Harold f5 June 4,, 1940.

H. J. SMITH ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER CUPS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 13, 1934 June 4, 1940., H. J. SMITH ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER CUPS 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Dec. 13, 1954 June 4, W H. J. SMITH ET Al.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER CUPS Filed Dec. 13, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. J. SMITH ET AL.

METHOD AND MAGHI June 4, 1940.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Can/6 1?. 5/106 Patented June 4, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,203,510 ma'rnon AND MACHINE ron MAlilNG PAPER CUPS Harold J. Smith, Riverside, andCarl B. Bild, Chicago, IiL, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Dixie-Vortex Company. Chicago, 11]., a corporation oi Delaware Application December 13, 1934, Serial No. 757,250

24 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing paper cups of the cone-shaped variety, and likewise to a machine capable of performing the method.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of such cups, it has been customary to cut finished blanks from a roll of paper and stack them in a magazine, from which they are fed, one by one, to the instrumentalities that form the cups. This prom cedure is objectionable for a number of reasons.

In the first place, 'it results usually in a substantial waste of paper, and secondly, it involves several steps such as die cutting and magazining, that have been found to be unnecessary.

13 To the end of "overcoming the foregoing objections, the invention herein contemplates feeding paper in a continuous strip from a roll to the forming instrumentalities. In the course of travel of the paper, it is cut into semi-finished 2o blanks of the desired shape. Thus the steps of die cutting and magazining are eliminated.

Another object of the invention consists in providing a novel machine for performing the meth-' od, said machine being comparatively simple in 25 design and construction, and efficient and economical in operation. A feature of the invention which contributes to the accomplishment of this object resides in the provision of a machine comprising a pair of cooperating forming cones, 30 means for feeding a strip of paper in the direction of the cones, together with means for severing the strip, as it is being fed, into blanks of the desired configuration.

Other objects and features of the invention will 35 become apparent from a reading of the following specification, in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

4 Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; fjFigure 3 is a detailed view of a cutting-mechanism shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in section taken along the 45 line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in front elevation of acertain portion of the machine that is depicted in Figure Figures 6 and 7 are detailed views of the form- 50 ing instrumentalitiesf i Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the cup blank and the completed cup formed therefrom; and

Figure 10 shows a modified type of forming cone.

Referring to Figures .1 and 2, the machine comprises, generally speaking, a pair of forming cones l0 and I2; two pairs, of feeding rolls l4, l6 and I8, 20, for furnishing a strip of paper from a roll 22 to the forming instrumentalities;

a knife mechanism 24 for severing the strip in- 5 to segments or semi-finished cup blanks; a rotary knife 26 located adjacent to the lower forming cone, adapted to shape the blank into a finished condition; together with means 28 for applying glue to the semi-finished blank as it passes from m the cutting mechanism 24 on its way to the forming instrumentalities.

These four units, namely, (1) the forming cones, (2) the feeding rolls, (3) the gluing means, and (4) the cutting mechanism, constitute the 1:, main operating elements of the machine. All other parts and devices merely contribute to the successful and efiicient functioning of the four named units.

The upper forming cone [0 is mounted in an angular U-shaped bracket 30, which is clearly illustrated in Figure 6. The lower cone is mounted in a bracket 32 located beneath the bed 34 of the machine. The upper cone is provided with a shaft 36 that is journaled in bearings formed in the bracket 30. Similarily the lower cone is provided with a shaft 38 journaled within bearings formed in the bracket 32. A gear 40, pinned to the shaft 36 of the upper cone, is arranged to be driven in a manner that will here: after be described, and a second gear 42, also pinned to the shaft, engages a driven gear Mldriven from a suitable source of power. Re-

ferring to Figure 1, it will be seen that a gear 48 is fixed to the shaft, and referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that the gear has engagement with another gear 50 of the same size and diameter that is fixed to the shaft that carries the lower feed roll 20. Thus both rolls are driven at exactly the same rate of speed. An idler"52 o' is driven by the lower gear 50 and in turn drives a gear 54 pinned to the shaft of the feed roll 16. Again in this instance the upper feed roll I4 is provided with a gear 56 identical to the lower gear 54, and thus it will be seen that all four of u the feed rolls are driven at exactly the same rate of speed.

The strip of paperthat leaves the roll 22 is firmly gripped by the two pairs of feed rolls, which may be made of metal or rubber, or any other suitable material, and is advanced in the direction of the forming cones Ill and II. It willbe observed that the bites between the feeding rolls and the forming cones lie within the same horizontal plane, whereby the paper is fed directly toward the line of contact between the cones l0 and I2. To assist the paper in being carried from the forward pair of feeding rolls l4, IE to the forming cones, and to prevent the possibilityof the paper bending out of line, the machine is provided with a guide or rest 58 (Figure 1) over which the edge of the paper is fed, and with a guide finger 60 located adjacent to the points of the cones and carried in a manner that will hereinafter be fully described. Accordingly, as the forward edge of the paper is fed to the left in the direction of the cones, (looking down upon the machine as shown in Figure 1), the right-hand edge of the advancing strip moves across the rest 58, and the left-hand edge moves into engagement with the guide 60, whereby the blank is properly presented to the forming cones. The rear edge of the blank leaves the rollers l4 and- IB just about the time the blank is picked up by the former l2.

The task of severing the blank into its finished form is divided into two separate operations.- First, the cutting mechanism 24 that is located between the feed rolls severs the continuous strip into blanks of semi-finished form, and lastly, the rotary cutting knife 26 located adjacent to the lower forming cone I2 completes the severing operation;

Referring now to the first of these instrumentalities, which is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the frame of the machine is provided with a plurality of vertical posts 62, 64 for supporting a knife frame 86. The latter is adapted to move vertically upon the posts and to afford resiliency to its downward movement, a compression spring 81 (Figure 2]) encircles each post and lies between the bottom of the knife frame and the framework of the machine. Thus, as the frame is moved downwardly it meets the resistance of the spring, and when downward pressure upon the frame is relieved the springs expand, thereby returning the frame to its operative position.

The frame is provided on its forward side with a knife blade 68 that has edgqto. edge engagement with a cutting plate 10, mounted in the framework of the machine. Asshown in Figures 2 and 3, the knife frame 86 has slideably mounted thereon a plurality of plungers 12, the lower extremities of which are equipped with a presser plate 13. Compression springs 18 surround the lower extremities of the plungers and give a re-' silient bacldng to the presser plates 13. In operation, as the paper is'fed beneath the cutting mechanism, the latter is actuated to cause the I knife to descend. At the instant the cuttin prises a bar I4 that extends above the knife frame, and is provided with a pluralityof presser arms 18 which engage within recesses formed within the knife frame. Rigidly attached to the end of the bar 14 is'an actuating arm 80 which,

as clearly illustrated in Figure 5, is arranged to be engaged by a raised surface 82, carried by a cam 04, pinned to the outer extremity of the shaft of the upper feed roll II.

The cutting mechanism that has Just been described severs the continuous strip of paper into a series of blanks, having an outline such as that illustrated in Figure 8. In this condition the blank is in a semi-finished form, andin order to be of such a finished shape as will permit the formation therefrom of a cone-shaped cup, it must be severed along thedotted line A. To this latter end, the lowermost forming cone l2, around which the blank is wrapped, has mounted in cooperating relationship therewith the rotary cutting knife 28. The latter is driven as shown in Figure 7 by a gear 86 pinned to the shaft of the cutting tool, the gear" being driven by a cooperating gear 88 that is fixed to the shaft of the lower cone.

It will accordingly be seen that'the rear edge of the cone cooperates with the cutting tool 26 and forms a cutting line at the'polnt 90, which represents the line of contact between the knife and the cone. Accordingly, it will be .understood that the semi-finished blank passing from the feed rolls has a certain amount of surplus material on it. However, as it wraps itself around the lower forming cone the surplus material is removed by the action of the cutting tool or rotary knife 26. 7

As stated in the beginning, the machine is equipped with means for applying glue or cement to the semi-finished blank, and to this latter 1 portions or ridges 98. The latter engage the surface of a glue carrier wheel 28 and thereby receive glue from the pot 98 within which the wheel rotates. Thus, as the blank is fed through the feed rolls M and It its left-hand edge, as viewed when looking down pon the machine as shownin Figure 1, receiv the glue. It is for this reason that the left-hand edge of the blank is not guided on its way to the cone.

However, the right-hand guide 58 and the forward edge guide 60 afford the necessary support for the advancing blank.

From so much of the description as has already been given, it will be seen that the continuous strip of paper is fed from the roll 22, through the rear feeding rolls, is severed into semi-finished blanks, is next fed between the forward feed rolls at which point glue is applied.

and is then wrapped around the lowermost cone while the surplus material is removed by the action of the rotary cutting tool 28. In order to insure proper gripping of the blank between the cones and proper wrapping of the biank'around the lowermost cone, the latter is provided, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, with a plurality of openings III that communicate with a hollow 75 bore I02 formed interiorly of the lower cone. This bore or passageway is in communication with an annular recess I04 formed within the bracket 32, A tube or conduit I06 (Figure 7) communicates with the annular recess I04 and thereby is likewise in communication with the openings I formed within the outer surface of the cone. By means of suitable apparatus, a vacuum is built up within the conduit I06, causing a'vacuum or suction to be formed within the openings I00. .The speed of rotation of the various operating units is such that the semifinished blank presents itself to the lower cone in the manner shown in Figure 7. In this way the 7 7, the tip I08 is mounted upon a shaft IIO that is two results.

' the air causes the complete removal of the cup from the cone. In other words, the plunger initiates the stripping actionand the compressed air then blows the cup completely off the cone.

The drive'to the cones I0 and I2 is as follows: A beveled pinion 4I secured to the shaft 43 rotatable in bracket 30 meshes with the'bevel gear 40 and drives the same. The shaft 43 is in turn driven from the shaft carrying the upper feed roll I4 through the intermediacy of the spur gear 41 on the said shaft, idler 4!!v rotatably mounted on the bracket 30, gear 5I rigidly connected to the gear 53, and gear 55 on the shaft 43. Gear 42 on shaft 36 drives shaft 38 through gear 44 on the latter shaft.

When the cup is discharged from the lower cone I2, the upper cone I0 is retracted to the of the disk 31 as the gear rotates, and due to the fact that the disk 31 and projection 39 rotate in planes at an angle to each other, a longitudinal displacement of the disk, and consequently of said cone I0, takes place. As soon as the projection 30 moves out of engagement with the disk 31, the cone I0 falls by gravity into its operative position shown by full lines in Figure 6, or if desired, a spring 3611. or any other desired means may be used for moving the cone back into operative position.

In order that the interior bore I02 may serve alternatively as a pressure and vacuum and chamber, the openings I00 are provided with a suitable valve member. In Figure 6 this member comprises a rubber tube I I4 which, when vacuum is applied, collapses, allowing the vacuum to be transmitted to the openings I00. In the event pressure is applied the tube is restored to its normal condition and the pressurecauses the plunger I08 to move outwardly.

In Figure 10 a modified form of valve arrangement is shown in which vacuum causes the valves I I6 to open and pressure causes them to close. It will be appreciated that the construction of the plunger I08, H0 is such as will permit the free flowof air through the end of the cone. In other words, pins are employed instead of washers, and where washers are used they are smaller than therecess in which they are located, in order that the free egressof air will not be impeded.

In order that the vacuum and pressure will-be established at correct intervals, certain mechanism illustrated in Figuresl and 4 is provided. The conduit I06 is connected with a valve block I which contains two valve chambers I22 and I24, each of which is controlled by a valve I26, I28. The stems of the valves extend vertically and are surrounded by compression springs I30,

' I32, whereby, under normal conditions, both valves remain closed.

A plurality of cams I34, I36 are mounted upon the outer extremity of the shaft of the upper forward feed roll I4 and are timed to operate the valves at proper intervals. An air passageway I38 communicates with the valve chamber I22 and a vacuum passage way I40 leads to the other chamber I24.- In operation the cams I34, I36open first one valve and then the other at proper points in the operation of the machine, permitting the establishment within the lower cone of either pressure or vacuum, as desired.

There remains one last instrumentality to be described. The forward edge guide 60 is mounted upon a finger I42 which is secured to a stacking mechanism. As'shown in Figure 6 the stacking mechanism is adapted for movement between either of two positions, in the upper dotted line of which access to the stack of cups K is afforded. In the operation of the machine the stacking mechanism is moved into the dotted line position just as the cup is blown from the lower cone. The force of the compressed air blows the cup into the stack, whereup the mechanism descends from the dotted line position and engages the rim of the completed cup, causing it to nestle properly within the stack. In this position the guide 60 will stop the oncoming blank at a point beyond the apex of cone I2 substantially at the apex of the V-shaped notch in the edge of the blank, wherea'fter the wrapping of the blank about cone I 2 will cause the same to pivot about the guide 60 and prevent the blank from advancing too far. The operation of the stacking mechanism is as follows: A pivot bar I44 (Figure 1) is mounted within brackets I46, I48 and has aflixed thereto an actuating finger I50. Looking now at Figure 5, the actuating finger is adapted tobe engaged by a curved lever arm I52. The shaft of the upper feed roll I4 is provided with a cam I54, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, having a raised portion I56 that once during each cycle of operation of the machine engages a projection I58 formed on the curved lever arm, causing the upper extremity of the arm to be depressed momentarily and thestacking plate I60 to be moved into the into the full line position, thus completing its operation.

The description of the machine has been completed It will be appreciated, it is believed, that it is extremely simple in design and construction, and likewise rapid and efllcient in operation. Its operating instrumentalities are comparatively few. By dispensing with the provision of a magazine, the-necessity of feeding blanks one by one from one end of a stack is likewise dispensed with, and thus simplicity itself governs.

As for the method, it is contemplated that its patentability resides in the formation of coneshaped cups from a continuous strip of paper, the width of which is approxmiately the width of the cup blank, in such a manner that a minimum loss of paper results. In some respects this minimum loss is due to the shape of the blank itself which permits a sound, leak-proof cup to be obtained from a blank of extremely simple design. For example, the forward edge of the blank comprises nothing more than an obtuse angle.

It must be appreciated that certain variations of devices in the machine, as well as in the blank, and even the precise steps of the method de edge first, to said mandrel, means to apply adhesive to a'trailing edge of said sheet as it is so delivered, means to rotate the mandrel to thereby wrap the sheet thereon from the leading edge toward the trailing. edge and to lap the trailing edge carrying the adhesive upon said leading edge whereby to form a conical shell in place on said mandrel, said mandrel having a relatively shiftable apexial portion, and means to shift the-same after the sheet has been so wrapped upon the mandrel in order to loosen the resulting shell on the mandrel.

5. The method of manufacturing conical shells which comprises feeding a strip of material along a given path, severing the. strip to form blanks, rotating each blank about a point substantially in its leading edge while rolling the same to conical form and simultaneously trimming circularly the edges of the blank forming the base of said conical shell.

6. The method of forming conical shells which comprises feeding a strip of material, severing scribed herein may be made without constituting the Strip into blanks and e ing the blanks suca departure from the true scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new and dmire to secure by Letters Patent of a the United States is:

1. In a cupforming mechanism, the combination with a pair of rotatable conical members rotatable about axes in substantially the same plane but at such an angle with respect to each other as to maintain opposed elements of their conical faces substantially parallel to each other,

one of said conical members constituting a form upon which the cup is shaped and the other of said conical members constituting a'presser member for holding the material of the cup against said first mentioned conical member, means for moving one of the conical members longitudinally ofthe axis thereof after the cup is formed, in a direction away from the vertex of the (angle formed by the axes of said cones, whereby the I surfaces of said cones are separated, whereafter the cup may be ejected oil the cone on which the cup is formed.

2. In conical cup receptacle forming mechanism, the combination of means for feeding I blanks along a predetermined path to a forming position, forming mechanism at such position including a conical former, and guide means adjacent said forming mechanism for engaging the advance edge of a blank to arrest the movement of that portion of that edge as adjacent por tions of said edge are brought into engagement with said conical former, whereafter the blank pivots about said guide means as the. blank is wrapped about said conical former.

3. In a receptacle forming mechanism, the combination with means for feedingv a blank along a given path, forming mechanism for forming the receptacle, means for moving said receptacleofi said forming mechanism after the same is formed and guiding mechanism for guiding the blankon to said forming mechanism, a portion ofsaid guiding mechanism being located in the path of movement of said receptacle as the latter is moved oil the forming mechanism, and means for moving said portion of the guiding mecha nism out of the path of said receptacle when the receptacle is moved'oil said forming mecha- 4. almachine for forming sheet material into cones, the combination of a conical mandrel, means for delivering a sheet of material, leading cessively to a forming station, rolling up each blank, about a point substantially in its leading edge at said station to form a cone while trimming the edges of the blank which forms the base of said cone along a circular trim line.

7. The method of forming conical paper cups which comprises feeding a strip of paper along a predetermined path, successively severing the strip as it travels to form blanks having leading and trailing edges, feeding the blanks successively to a forming station and successively rolling up each blank toform a cone by turning it about a point substantially in its leading portions while rolling up the blank from its leading edge circularly toward one of the side edges, and securing the side edge on the leading edge.

8. In a container making machine, continuous ly rotating forming means including a mandrel and a rider, the latter bearing on a blank carried by the mandrel from substantially the reception of the blank until just prior to its discharge, and means arranged to move one of said forming means axially in a direction toward the mouth end of the cup and away from the tip end during rotation to separate the mandrel and rider sufficiently to permit the ejection of a formed container and the admission therebetween of a blank to be formed.

9. In a machine for making conical paper cups, feeding means arranged to continuously feed a strip of stock, cutting means arranged to suecessively sever blanks from the continuously moving strip by repeatedly cutting off the end of the strip crosswise along a line other than straight across said strip, and a forming mandrel of substantially conical shape positioned in the path of a severed blank to receive the leading edge of the blank and wind the blank about a substantially intermediate part of said edge and so that said intermediate part defines the tip. end

of the forming element to'define the'lower end of 'said cup.

11. The method of making a conical paper cup, which comprises feeding a strip of stock along a predetermined path, successively cutting off the end of said strip substantially transversely but along a line other than straight across said strip, and forming a conical cup from a blank so severed-from said strip by rolling the blank about a substantially intermediate point of the leading edge so that said point defines the tip end of the cup being formed.

12. In a machine of the class described, means for forming a cup from a blank of flexible material, said means comprising a cup forming mandrel' having means associated therewith for securing an edge portion of the blank thereto, anda rotatable presser roll movable axially to engage a blank onsaid mandrel during the formation of a cup thereon and movable out of engagement with'the cup when completed, said mandrel having means associated therewith for, discharging a finished cup therefrom.

13. In a machine of the class described, means i for forming a cup from a blank of flexible material, said means comprising a rotatable cup forming mandrel having means associated therewith for securing an edge of the blank thereto, and a.

presser roll rotatable with said mandrel and movable axially in one direction to engage a blank on the mandrel during the formation of a cup thereon and movable axially in the opposite direction out of engagement with the cup when completed, said mandrel having means associated therewith for discharging a finished cup therefrom.

14. Ina machine of the class described, means for forming a cup from a blank of flexible material, said means comprising a rotatable coneshaped cup forming mandrel having means associated therewith for securing an edge portion of the blank thereto, a cone-shaped presser roll rotatable with said mandrel and movable axially in one direction to engage a blank on said mandrel during the formation of a cup from said blank and movable axially in the opposite direction out of engagement with the cup when completed, and a cutter adjacent the base of said mandrel for trimming the open end portion of a cup, said mandrel having means associated there- 'with for discharging a finished cup therefrom.

- said cutting device, a pair of rotatable shafts on which said feed rolls are mounted and means on at least one of said shafts for directly operating the said cutting device in synchronism with said feed rolls.

16. A machine for making cups of the character described from a web comprising a folding mechanism, a feeding mechanism for feeding the end of said web towards said mechanism in position to be engaged thereby, a cutting device positioned between said feeding and folding mechanisms for cutting off the end of said web in the form of a cup blank prior to the delivery thereof to the said a folding mechanism; said cutting device comprising a first member on a plane with said feeding mechanism, guide members, a second cutting member reciprocally movable on said guide members and adapted to cut off a portion of said web, a pair of rotatable shafts in said feeding mechanism, feed rolls on said shafts and means on said shafts for directly operating the said second member of the said cutting device.

17. In a machine of the class described, means for forming a cup from a blank of flexible material, said means comprising a rotatable coneshaped cup forming mandrel having means associated therewith for securing an edge portion of the blank thereto, a cone-shaped presser roll rotatable with said mandrel and on an axis ex-- tending at an angle to the axis of the mandrel, said presser roll being movable axially in one direction to engage a blank on said mandrel dur-' ing the formation of a cup from a blank thereon and movable axially in the opposite direction out of engagement with the cup when completed, and a rotatable cutter adjacent the base of said mandrel for trimming the open end portion of the cup, said mandrel having a blow-off port connected with a source of air pressure supply for discharging a finished cup therefrom.

18. In a cup forming machine, a frame, a

main drive shaft rotatably mounted therein, a, rotatable cup forming mandrel having means associated therewith for securing an edge portion of a cup blank thereto, a rotatable presser roll operatively related to said mandrel, resilient means for urging said presser roll axially to yieldingly engage a cup blank on said mandrel, and means operatively related to said roll and drive shaft for moving the presser roll away from said mandrel to release a finished cup formed thereon.

19. A machine for making cups of the character described from a web of paper comprising a folding mechanism, a feeding mechanism comprising a pair of rotatable shafts, feed rolls on said shafts for feeding the end of said web towards said folding mechanism, a vertically movable reciprocating cutting device for cutting off the end of said web in the form of a cup blank, and means connected to at least one of said rotatable shafts for operating said cutting device. I

20. A method of making conical paper cups, including the steps of feeding an elongated strip of paper along a predetermined path, successively severing the end of the strip thereacross along a line other than straight transversely across the strip to provide from said cut-off end portions of the strip blanks each having a leading and a trailing edge, feeding the blanks successively to a forming station after severance, and successively forming a conical cup from each "blank by severing the end of the strip along a line other than straight across the strip to provide blanks each having a leading and a trailing edge, feeding the severed blanks successively to a forming station, applying adhesive to one of the overlapped portions of each severed blank as the blank is fed to the forming station, and successively rolling each blank into conical shape about a point substantially at an intermediate part of said leading-edge and so that said end point defines the tip end of the cup.

22. In a machine for making conical paper cups having adhesively held overlapped portions, a forming element shaped to have a conical paper cup formed thereon, feeding means arranged to advance/an elongated'stock strip generally to-. wards said forming element, cutting means armated to successively sever blanks from the leading end of said strip along a line of out other than straight across said strip, feeding means arranged to successively advance the severed blanks to said forming element in such position that a portion of theleading blank edge defined by the line of cut extends beyond the end of said forming element, and gluing means associated with the second said feeding means arranged to apply adhesive to one of the resultant overlapped portions of each severed blank.

23. In a machine for making conical paper cups, a forming element shaped to have a conical cup formed thereon, feeding means arranged to continuously advance a stock strip, cutting means arranged to successively sever blanks from saidcontinuously moving strip by cutting the strip in a general transverse direction but along a line of cut other than straight across said strip to provide blanks each having a leading edge. feeding means to successively advance the severed blanks to a position to be picked up by said forming element, and a stop member 10- cutting means to completely sever a blank from said continuously advancing strip prior to the start of the forming operation, and trimming means associated with said forming means to shape a blank while the same is being formed.

HAROLD J. SMITH. CARL B. BILD. 

